New Smyrna Beach for Families: Sand, Snacks, & a Lighthouse
If your ideal family beach day includes more than just sand and waves, New Smyrna Beach might be a perfect fit! Just like our trip to Playalinda Beach, this coastal spot is an easy one-hour drive from Orlando – but with more nearby dining, walkable streets, and even a lighthouse (just a short drive away!).
In this post, I’m sharing exactly how we spent a full family day in New Smyrna. You’ll find tips for parking, beach time, treats, and an educational afternoon stop the kids loved!
A Flexible Itinerary for Families Visiting New Smyrna Beach
We headed to New Smyrna Beach on a rainy, Saturday morning in late May. Here is a snapshot of our day, plus a few adjustments we’d make next time if the weather had cooperated!
Morning: Coffee & Beach Time
You’ll want to start your day with a coffee stop near the beach! It’s a great way to fuel up (for you and the kids), while getting a feel for the area. We usually aim to arrive around 8:45 AM, but thanks to some rainy weather, we pushed back our arrival to 10:15 on this visit.
Insider Tip: Park Here If You Can!
The Jassamine Avenue Lot is free, steps from Luma and the beach, and one of our favorite spots to park in New Smyrna. Just know: it’s very small! If you’re visiting on a sunny weekend, plan to arrive before 9 AM to grab a spot.
Luma: Coffee, Toast, & Vibes
Start your morning at Luma, a cozy coffee shop just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. The black-and-white umbrellas, comfy outdoor couches, and wooden swings make it the kind of place that feels more like a relaxing backyard. The kids split the “Honey Monkey” peanut butter banana toast – a little pricey, but totally worth it. (I grabbed an iced latte to go!) There’s even a little play area with toys, but it was too wet to use while we were there.
Playtime at New Smyrna Beach
From Luma, it’s an easy two-block walk to the beach! If you choose to park in the lot right next to the beach, it’s $20 for the day (9AM-5PM). You can also drive your car directly onto the sand and park there! (It’s $35 for the day if you’re planning to stay a while).
Important Note for Families: There are cars (even ice cream trucks!) driving up and down the beach. While my two-year-old loved it, it did make us a bit more nervous – especially as the tide came in and slowly pushed our setup closer to the driving path.
Plan on staying 1-2 hours at the beach, depending on the weather and your arrival time. Even with a shorter visit, our kids had a great time digging in the sand, collecting shells, and hauling around buckets of salt water. (Wondering what we pack for a beach trip with toddlers? Here’s my full packing list!)
When you’re ready to rinse off, Flagler Avenue Beachfront Park has multiple showers and a full row of public restrooms. So helpful when you’ve got little ones covered in sand and hungry for lunch!
Lunchtime on Flagler Avenue
Heading up Flagler, you’ll have your pick of great lunch spots! We chose Avanu, which offers Polynesian-inspired dishes for the adults and classic kids fare (like chicken tenders & cheeseburgers). I splurged on the Poke Stack — and while the food took a little while to come out, the quality (and the rooftop seating!) made it worth the wait.
The rooftop patio was a great fit for families. It wasn’t too quiet, and the sea breeze and palm tree views gave a true “beach day” feeling. That said, this isn’t your typical “family restaurant,” so you’ll be glad to have a few small activities or toys on hand. (If you haven’t seen what’s in our go-to restaurant bag, it’s saved us more than once!)
If you’re looking for other options, I also pinned Café Verde & Third Wave Café, both local favorites. And while it’s not on Flagler, Yellow Dog Eats (at their NSB location) is worth a short drive. We’re big fans of the original Orlando location!
Afternoon Adventure: Exploring the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
After wrapping up your time in New Smyrna Beach, hop in the car for the 35-minute drive to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. (And if you’re lucky, maybe your littles will take a short nap!) I actually loved this stretch along US-1 – it’s lined with glimpses of “Old Florida” that you don’t always see when you stick to the highway.
So why add a lighthouse to your “beach day?”
Our kids (ages 5 & almost 3) were fascinated by the towering, brick-red lighthouse and loved exploring the exhibits inside the historic buildings. Fun fact – it’s actually the second tallest lighthouse in the U.S.! From antique Fresnel lenses to household items used by former lighthouse keepers (think old bottles, historic irons, and even glass marbles from the children!), there’s plenty to see!
Insider Tip: Littles Climbing the Lighthouse
The lighthouse tower climb is 203 steps, and children must be able to climb independently (no carrying!). On this visit, our youngest wasn’t quite ready. But that just means we’ll have to visit again when he’s bigger!
We spent about 90 minutes here, which was perfect to explore the grounds, take photos, and visit all of the exhibits. One other reason to add this to your itinerary? The admission prices are so reasonable. When we visited, it was $6.95 for the adults (ages 12+), $1.95 for our 5-year-old, and children under 3 were free!
Want more details – plus a few of our favorite books about lighthouses? Check out my full post about visiting the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse with kids!
Final Thoughts: New Smyrna Beach for Families
We absolutely loved our visit to New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet Lighthouse – a mix of great food, beach time (even with the iffy weather!), and a bit of history to round it out.
I’ll admit – I originally considered booking an Airbnb for the weekend, but after experiencing it for ourselves, I think it makes the perfect day trip from Orlando! The drive was manageable, the pace was flexible, and we still felt like we got a real taste of the area.
If you need a little beach day without the stress of an overnight stay, this Space Coast visit might be just what your family needs!
